From: Muriel Luedeman
mur620@gmail.com
IIAW UPDATE - June 26
Hello, IIAW and Unity Center Friends,
God's progress at IIAW Unity Center over the past 4 and a half years.
July 8th there will be a clean out and clean up day for the Unity Center renovations at 9am.
The sanctuary is nearly completed and worship services will soon resume there.
An Hispanic church has joined the Unity Center for worship and service with IIAW and TEAM JESUS.
Two new showers and washer and dryer installed on the worship center level.
City approved plans to rehab classrooms for Ruth House temporary housing - 30-45 day stays for women and children
A $10,000 gift has been made to paint the exterior of the entire building.
Next Project: Ruth House rooms being prepped for installation of new ceiling and floor tiles.
Next Phase: Ruth House furnishings: Paint, blinds, room partitions, beds, wardrobes, tables, chairs, lighting.
Unity Center greatest prayer need:
VOLUNTEERS, skilled and unskilled individuals and collective groups
Committed churches, civic, and business groups to adopt Ruth House rooms for completion and furnishing.
Fully committed, consistent volunteers on site at the Unity Center to oversee and conduct Unity Center day to day operations over the long term.
Strategy sessions for housing solutions for men.
Praise Report on some but not all IIAW blessings:
Acquired Unity Center
Jesus Store established
Two medical exam rooms installed
Advancement on creating a commercial kitchen - new electrical and plumbing for three basin sink
Commercial appliances
Worship center redesigned and furnished
Roof leak repaired
Windows replaced in south wing
Ground water leak repaired in the worship center
We have come so far in 4 plus years. It often seems that we are invisible, and our efforts are low and slow. but our impact has been massive, according to Pastor Brian Carline. He reports that God, through the Unity Center has served over 20,000 people with local meal prep for Beloveds, national hurricane relief coast to coast, Native American reservation relief supplies and bicycles ministry, US/Mexican border relief and ministry, and orphanage relief and Bibles going to Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
God's Bucket Brigade operates out of the Unity Center and provides 5 gallon plastic buckets filled with essential supplies to Beloveds nationwide.
Local monthly neighborhood clean ups and support for Independence widows.
IDs provided and employment arranged for Beloveds
Information formulated on IIAW neighborhood care strategies and protocols goes out to encourage individuals and churches who want to get involved in community service.
IIAW Extended Hands Collaborate: Monthly meetings to network with and support organizations who offer social services to residents with needs - So far we have served Salvation Army, Ruth's Mobile Pantry at Northern Boulevard United Methodist Church, Baby Grace, and Mother's Refuge. Extended Hands developed a website and offers a directory of groups who serve the needs of people in the Independence area.
God is moving quietly, but powerfully in so many ways, touching so many people who want to reach out to others. We are very hopeful that the next 4 years will see tremendous changes for the better in Independence and the KC Metro area.
Thank you all for saying "YES" to the Holy Spirit in donations of goods, time, energy, and funds. We are all better together than we are alone. Praise Him!!!
Muriel Luedeman
mur620@gmail.com
816 726 8425
